Haruto had fidgeted for the nth time and L-elf hit his head for the nth time. They had set out and L-elf would not settle for travelling only at night and being idle during the day. So Haruto was outfitted with a hooded cape and gloves. He had a scarf around the bottom half of his face for extra precaution. But for obvious reasons, he was still wary and could keep messing with his clothes, which was why L-elf had to physically scold him each time.

They had been travelling for a few hours once everything they needed was packed. Haruto had gathered all the foods he collected, dried meats, fruit, and pickles. It was mid-morning and they were on their way, south, to get to JIOR. After Haruto had his meal last night, the first thing L-elf asked were if there were others like him. And there were. Not many.

Still, in JIOR and small group that Haruto had left behind. He didn't elaborate on why he left them, but L-elf didn't care. What mattered was that they be found and brought over to their cause. With more of them fighting, overthrowing the current royal family would be a breeze.

"We should get to the coast in about two days. Then we'll take a ship to make it to JIOR. Until then, tell me more about your coven."

"C-coven? We're not really like that. Not really."

"Clan?"

Haruto shook his head. "We're all just friends who were turned at the same time." And he left it at that.

They walked the worn path side by side. The sun was setting and they went off to the side of the road to rest out of sight. It was almost dark enough for Haruto to remove his outer clothing. In the shade, he took off his gloves and scarf but kept the hood over his head.

"Hey, L-el-"

Whatever he was going to say was cut off by L-elf's hand on his mouth. He was about to protest when he heard someone coming down the road. They were hidden in the foliage but if they moved they would give away their location. The source of the sound came into view. It was a scouting group of Dorssian soldiers on horseback. They were being tracked. Haruto felt his mouthed being freed as L-elf reached for something.

Whatever it was, whizzed past his ear and nailed one of the soldiers right in the neck. Before the others could react, L-elf had jumped out and started taking down the others. He moved too fast for Haruto to make sense of. When he finally stopped, there were five dead men and five nervous horses. L-elf mounted one and looked to Haruto.

"Get on."

He didn't have to be told twice. Haruto grabbed their things and clumsily sat himself on the horse behind L-elf. They set off and continued on their way to the coast. Haruto tried to talk over the galloping horse.

"Hey, how did you know how to do all that?!"

"Don't talk. You'll bite your tongue."

That shut him right up. They traveled for hours through the night until the sun began to show. They stopped and Haruto put his protective gear back on. The horse had shortened their trip significantly. The coast was already in sight just from a night of riding. Just a little more and they could hire a boat. They gave the horse a rest and walked it to the seaside town.

L-elf sold him, since they wouldn't need a horse on a boat and what they needed most was money. Haruto had no coin to his name, since he caught all his food and lived in a place no one would approach. L-elf had his pay from being a soldier, but not that he was unemployed, it wouldn't last. And a coup would cost money. They found a ship that would take them both, despite Haruto's covered appearance and they set off.

Soon they would be in JIOR, Haruto's homeland. He wasn't sure how to feel about that, considering how he left things. He wasn't even certain that the others would join him. When he ran away, they were living peacefully, settled into their new forms. The only one who couldn't do that was Haruto.

"Hey, when we get there, what are you going to tell them? They won't just fight for anything. Are you...will you offer your blood to them too?", Haruto spoke in a hushed voice as they leaned against the rail of the ship. He didn't want any eavesdropping.

"It is my blood. I am entitled to give it to anyone I please. But if I feed your whole coven, I'll be dead before we can get back to Dorssia. I have something else for them."

"What?" Haruto was curious as to what else he could offer that would interest a vampire.

"Freedom. If you are any indication, they will want to live among people without needing to hide themselves in fear."

"You really think that could happen? For people like us?"

"When we overthrow one of the most powerful governments in the world and take it into our own hands, we can do anything that we want."

"So you really think we can do it? You really believe in us like that?"

"Dorssia had no countermeasures concerning immortal bloodsuckers. I will use that to our advantage. How many of you are there?"

"Let's see, there's me, and four others", Haruto counted off his fingers.

"That will be sufficient."

They arrived on the shores of JIOR a few days later and Haruto was hit with nostalgia. On the docks, the fisherman spoke with the local dialect and colloquialisms. It really had been a long time since he'd heard his native tongue.

"What city are they located in?", L-elf asked as soon as they were on land.

"They've moved to the country since we turned, but..."

"But? Spit it out."

"It's been about thirty...thirty-seven years since I've been in JIOR. I'm not sure if they'd stay in the same place." It was likely that they'd settled and still lived where Haruto had left them but he hadn't stepped foot in his home country for decades. They might be gone, or dead as far fetched as it sounded. Haruto just couldn't be certain.

"We won't find them by moping around. Let's go. Where are they?"

"In Okayama. From here, it'll probably take a few days."

"Let's not waste any time." L-elf wanted to make haste and find them. By now, the absence of those soldiers must have been noticed. Considering his military resume, L-elf didn't know what they were thinking sending just a few men after him. Perhaps they thought having the princess with him would be distracting. But now he didn't have her. He had no one. His mind was frighteningly clear.

"It's been days and we haven't heard from that squadron."

"Do you really think it would only take days to track and find L-elf?"

"I can't believe they didn't just send us to begin with."

"We're too close, we're under suspicion too."

"Then, if we're already being doubted, we should just take it into our own hands!"

"Q-vier is right. The fate of our country is at stake. And he is our friend."

"So we're going after him?"

"We're the only ones who can."